Accordion fold end-closure means for flexible pocket receptacles



Dec. 16, 1947. D. J. BROUGI-IITON 2,432,557

ACCORDION FOLD END-CLOSURE MEANS FOR FLEXIBLE POCKET RECEPTACLES Filed Sept. 26, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Dal/ems cZ' agave/iron BY Wu;

1L ATTORNEYS Dec. 16, 1947. D. J. BROUGHTON 2,432,557

ACCORDION FOLD END-CLOSURE MEANS FOR FLEXIBLE POCKET RECEPTACLES Filed Sept. 26, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Dot/ems (IERQyGHTo/v BY 1.7M

ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 16, 1947 ACCORDION FOLD END-CLOSURE MEANS FOR FLEXIBLE POCKET RECEPTACLES Douglas J. Broughton, Springfield, Mass, assignor to Buxton, Incorporated, Springfield, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application September 26, 1945, Serial No. 618,752

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to an improvement in flexible pocket receptacles such as pass cases and the like and more particularly to an improvement in the means for binding or connecting the several transparent holders or envelopes in which pass cards, photographs or similar articles are displayed.

One object of my invention is to provide means for this purpose which will provide a more secure and efficient binding together of the holders,

A further object is to provide a structure in which a free and uniform hinging action is afiorded the holders irrespective of the number which are bound together.

Another object is to provide a controlled degree of expansion across the back of the binding transversely of the axis of the hinges,

A still further object is to provide a binding which is adaptable to a wide range of pass case constructions.

Other and further objects and advantages will be made apparent in the following specification and claim.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate embodiments of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a generally perspective view, parts being broken away, of a pass case embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary generally perspective view of the binding member;

Fig. 3 is a generally perspective view showing a suitable form of holder or envelope member;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side edge elevational view showing the character of the expansion permitted by the binder;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side edge elevational view showing a modified form;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary generally perspective view showing an'alternative binder arrangement;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side edge elevational view showing a modified cover arrangement;

Fig. 8 is a detail side .edge elevational view, parts being broken away, showing an alternative form of holder and the manner of attaching it to the binder element;

Fig. 9 is a detailed side elevational view showing a modified holder and its manner of connection to the binder element;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary generally perspective view showing the invention embodied in a case having the holders hinged along one of their long sides; and

Fig. 11 is a generally perspective view showing the invention integrated with billfold structure.

It will be understood that for the sake of clear- 2 mess the thickness of the parts has been substantially exaggerated.

Referring to the drawings, l designates the holders, which are formed of any suitable transparent material such as regenerated cellulose or a suitable acetate or commercial plastic. The holders are in the shape of a flattened tube, one usual form, as shown in Fig. 3, being made by folding a sheet of the transparent material, and overlapping the edge portions as at 2 to form a flattened tube open at each end.

The binding member, generally indicated at 3 comprises a thin piece of leather. cloth or other suitable material provided with a plurality of accordion folds 4. One open end of the tubular holders is telescoped onto the folds 4 as clearly shown in Fig. 1, the inner face of the side walls of the holders being cemented to the outer faces of the folds. Preferably the holders extend only part way down the folds, leaving free loop portions 5 beyond the ends of the holders. As shown in Fig. 4, loops 5 permit a limited degree of separation of the holders as indicated at 6 to provide easy turning of the holders and to assure that the holders will lie flat when they are turned on their hinges. The degree of expansion of the binder can be nicely predetermined by the extent to which the holders are telescoped on the folds 4 and hence the depth of the loops 5 left at the bound ends of the holders. In practice the loops 5 will ordinarily be relatively small, but they can be sized to meet constructional needs.

As shown in Fig. 1, the ends of the binding member 3 may be extended to form covers I, one of the covers I being further extended to provide a closure flap 8 which is releasably attached to the other cover by a snap fastener 9 or other suitable means.

Pass cases constructed according to my invention are particularly well adapted for association with billfolds. The pass case may be attached to the billfold in any suitable manner, For example in Fig. 5 the end extensions of the binder 3 are made relatively short as indicated at Ill and these extensions are cemented or otherwise secured to stifily flexible members ll formed of plastic or the like. The members II are adapted to be inserted in the opposed side pockets of a billfold in a well known manner to hold the case Within the billfold.

A modified form of the binder is shown in Fig. 6. There a plurality of relatively narrow strips l2 of thin leather or the like are provided with accordion folds 4 and the holders I telescoped and cemented thereon all as previously described.

The ends of the strips l2 are cemented or otherwise secured to cover members l3.

My construction lends itself to a Wide range of cover construction. Thus if desired short end extensions I l of the binder may be cemented to cover boards it: which are covered with a suitably ornamented cover l6 including a fbook back ll,

In the forms so far discussed the cards or the like are inserted through the open outer ends of:

the tubular holder. If desired. however, the outer end of the holder may be closed as by; a binding strip l8 and the base of the holder cemented to only one side of the fold ofthe binder as indicated at IS in Fig. 8, the otherwall of the-holder an opening through which cards or the like-rna-y be inserted in the holder, This arrangement affords greater security for the contents of the holder.

'InFig; 9 I'have shown a modified'formof holder in which the side edges of the holder are-cut away :aS at 20;.to form extensions 2i. The extentzof. the cuts; 20 :is: such: that the extensions 2 I: extend to therbottomof loops 5. Expansion can tal zeiplace sat; thebinding:as;previously described due to the :;fiexibi1lty:0fythe extensions 2 I as indicated at the right f Fig. 9. ,The. presenceof the extensions?! tends to restrictgsthei freedom. or case of. eXDan- :sion,- W.hich is in some-cases desirable, and-Y the.

extensions 2| facilitate the assembly of the hold- -ers on, the accordion; folds since the-holders are telescopedonto the folds until stopped by the en- ;gagementofythepends of the extensions with the *.-.bottom;of the folds,: the length of the extensions;

.;ablestransparent material 22 folded at 123,:the

-edges-opposite the fold-being cemented one; to ;each;side Ofa;'bi1 '1deI',fQ1d?4 aS indicated at 24 to form tubular holders;= 25 for the reception of.

ca-rds for -the' like. The portions of the; several folds 4 within, .lihe holders-are-cemented or otherwise secured; together as; at '26 toprevent the boundedges ofthe holders from spreading. If

desired-oneendof the holders may be closed by a strip of adhesive: tape or: the like,21. .Itawill be As there. r

Z11 being left free of attachment to the fold leaving understood that the invention is not limited to any particular form or number of holders.

As shown in Fig. 11, the invention may be em ployed to hinge one or more holders directly to any suitable element of the billfold. By way of example, as shown in the latter figure, one edge ofithebillfold panel 28;may;be ext ended to pro- 'vide the binding folds 29 on which holders l are telescoped as previously described, the end por tions of the extension being folded up and cemented to the end holder as shown at 30.

7 What I claimis:

A pass case which comprises front and rear coversectionsa hinge section intermediate the =oover sections'and a section extending from the -rear coversection, all made up as a continuous strip; the hinge section being formed with a plurality of accordion folds extending inwardly between the cover sections, a, plurality of transparent fiat tubular members open at both endsse curedoneoneachof said inwardly extending ac- .:cordion folds in telescopic relation therewith, said folds; extending a'short: distance inwardly: of the tubular: members -:and holding thewa1ls of the member carried thereby in spaced relation for the reception of :pass cards and the like, :insertable through the opposite open end ;.of. thetubular :xmember, a portion of said folds beinggpositioned :outwardly of said members to form.-- ma'1l free loops. between adjacent; members to freely hinge themembers to each other: and. to the frontand .rearcover sections of: thestrip, the said section extending from the rear coversection beingfoldable around the outer ends; 0f the tubular-membersand into overlapping relation:Withthe-front 'cover.. ection,.and meanszto releasably connect said overlapping portion offthe extending section to the'front coversection.

DOUGLAS J. BROUGHTON.

BEFERENCES CITED 'Thefollowing referencesare of recording the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES? PATENTS Number Name Date 683,853 Forbes Oct. 1,;1901 1,170,793 -Ballantine Feb. 8, 1916 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date "237 403 Great Britain "July30, 1925 432336 France Oct.' 3; 1911 7 19.290 France =Nov.* 14, 1-931 

